MISION SANTA MARIA MAY 29, 2010, LET'S DO IT AGAIN!

WHO: BAJA NOMADS WITH 4WD, LOCKERS OR A-TRAC, 9"+ GROUND CLEARANCE.

WHAT: BAJA'S TOUGHEST 15 MILE ROAD TO AN ENCHANTED LOCTION

WHEN: MAY 29-30, 2010

WHERE: RANCHO SANTA YNEZ TO MISION SANTA MARIA (AND BACK)

WHY: BECAUSE IT IS THERE! (and it is a totally beautiful, exotic Baja place)

===========================================

This is a repeat of the Memorial Day, 2007 trip we (in a Tacoma) took with TheSquarecircle and Blanche using a Land Rover LR3: See http://vivabaja.com/msm

Now, we were planning on this last February, but the wet weather shelved the plan.

May was beautiful last time in there... perfect weather... and we even had a bighorn sheep encounter (see photos).

Because all things a flexible and things change, I am just putting this out there for those interested and properly equiped. This is a seriously tough, steep, rocky road... a Jeep Trail... or maybe a Tacoma Trail!

We are 90% certain of going at this point... but I will put the details here so anyone can be comfortable going. This originally was BAJACAT's tour, but he asked me to re-start it as he is only 70% certain for going.

We plan to zip down to El Rosario Friday night (we will be long south of Tijuana by dark), leave El Rosario after breakfast and be at Rancho Santa Ynez by 10-10:30 Saturday morning (Santa Ynez is a mile past Cataviña, 76 miles from El Rosario).

The mission is 14 1/2 miles from Santa Ynez and will take 2 1/2 to 3 hours to do the drive in, with photo stops!

We will camp Saturday night in the mission valley... either near the mission or near the oasis, which is a mile past the mission down a grade that is steeper than The Widowmaker!

Sunday, being in no rush, we will return to El Rosario and come home on Monday. This is a kind of road that is good to have another vehicle along, just in case. If anyone wants to stay until Monday at the mission, then I advise finding another vehicle to also stay with you... and drive out together. Returning to Santa Ynez is harder than the drive to the mission as you will be climbing UP the Widowmaker.

Please anybody that comes must have a mechanically sound 4WD with low range and lockers or traction control. New or near new condition tires, as well. Lightweight rigs with experienced drivers such as Jeep Wranglers or CJs may not need to use lockers.

This is only a 'welcome to join us' event... not an organized club activity, business or tour... Everyone going will be on their own and self contained.

Some photos of the road...









Punta Final on the gulf (Gonzaga Bay)

































WHO'S READY FOR "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE"?

ROAD LOG

0.0 Rancho Santa Ynez, take road through left gate, north of ranch.

0.8 FORK, go left/ uphill.

1.8 Deep Gully, 4WD climb out (if this scares you, go back!).

2.4 Rock pile, a road to left, go straight/ right fork.

4.6 Cement monument off to left (tracks continue past monument).

5.5 Arroyo crossing with palms.

9.8 Peninsular Divide, view of Punta Final on the gulf.

13.0 Top of the 'Widowmaker' grade.

14.1 MISION SANTA MARIA

15.1 Road enters sandy Arroyo Santa Maria, after very steep downgrade.

15.4 Turn left, out of arroyo (may be hidden by plants). Tracks ahead in arroyo end in 1/4 mile.

15.6 El Camino Real climbs to the left, up hillside. The mission trail stays out of the canyon, along the north ridge and returns to the arroyo at the east end of the canyon.

15.7 Roadbed washed out. Park and hike on to end of bulldozed grade to see petroglyphs, canyon view, Indian trail to canyon bottom.

2007 MSM TRIP: http://vivabaja.com/msm
2003 MSM TRIP: http://vivabaja.com/403/
1999 MSM TRIP: http://vivabaja.com/missionsm/
1999 Panorama: http://bajamur.homestead.com/files/mission.html
BAJA MISSIONS INFO SITE: http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1

Mileages modified after 2010 trip

[Edited on 6-2-2010 by David K]

FINDING THE MISSION

BAJA CALIFORNIA... note 'Cataviña' almost 1/3 down and in the center of the peninsula. The mission is between Cataviña and San Luis Gonzaga, on the east coast of Baja:



Cataviña is 300 miles/ ~7 hours from the border (Tijuana or Tecate). Last Pemex station is El Rosario, top off tanks! Gas may be available from cans at Cataviña. Hotel and motel rooms, meals, some supplies at Cataviña may be available. El Rosario is the closest town with dependable supplies, rooms, meals, 76 miles from Cataviña.



Rancho Santa Ynez (Ines) is a mile south of Cataviña on a paved side road. Meals, drinks, bunk rooms and camping at Santa Ynez.

Map shows two routes to the mission from Hwy. 1. Only the northern route is an autombile 4WD road. The southern route is a foot trail over a mountain.



The El Camino Real comes up to the Mision Santa Maria valley from the desert floor near Gonzaga Bay. It is a difficult 6 hour hike between the mission and the end of the road from Gonzaga, near Las Palmitas.

Yah... went to it last year... crowds of people... visited with some Nomads... see photos posted... too bad they are having it on a three day weekend... It is supposed to promote travel to Baja!!! Well, I plan to travel to Baja then!

Being in Baja beats being in San Diego at a Baja promotion, otherwise I would go! Mision Santa Maria is so special, and we only go every 3 or 4 years... You should too Zac!

I'll be in Baja the week before with my son and father. Two weeks and counting.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy You are going to miss the Baja by the Sea Fiesta at Seaport Village....same day. Yah... went to it last year... crowds of people... visited with some Nomads... see photos posted... too bad they are having it on a three day weekend... It is supposed to promote travel to Baja!!! Well, I plan to travel to Baja then! Being in Baja beats being in San Diego at a Baja promotion, otherwise I would go! Mision Santa Maria is so special, and we only go every 3 or 4 years... You should too Zac!

It was nice your dad had me fix the sprinkler system on his sold property, for the new owner... Tell him thanks again, when you see him!

Jim, Not my PopTop, but....Yes!

Want to go but would have to return following week for BAJA 500. May need to seek permission from wife.

Very cool!

I also posted this on Tacoma World as some there had seen the photos of The Widowmaker a while ago and got excited... asked to let them know when I was going back in...

Neal, it will be great to have you along this time!

Surfer Jim and Art (edm1), with your vehicles: "May the Force be with you!"
I know you have wanted to go even before you had 4WD, Art.

Jim, it is harder than the final 5 miles of getting into Matomi ranch, and about three times longer... so, you got your truck in there (Bob H, too)! http://vivabaja.com/204 The Widowmaker is just the one steep grade that stands out, but there are other challenges, like the bog.




Photo from GeoRock's automatic camera at Rancho Matomi.
From the left: Bob H & Audrey, MaryAnn & Mike Humfreville, Pat & MexRay,
Steve & Edie H, David K, GeoRock & Pete, Bill W & TW.
On the Hummer: Alicia, Sarah, Brittany. In front: Surfer Jim (+Shelby the wonder dog).
Tunaeater & Rudy left before photo taken

[Edited on 5-1-2010 by David K]

David thank you for re-porting this, as today Im in. My truck is perfectly sound as today pass the smog test a firts for me since I bought the truck back 2004.Don't have lockers but do have limited slip and alot of courage.

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJACAT David thank you for re-porting this, as today Im in. My truck is perfectly sound as today pass the smog test a firts for me since I bought the truck back 2004.Don't have lockers but do have limited slip and alot of courage.

"I still got my tow straps for the Toyotas that come."

TW, if you weren't so old and senile, I would be offended!
OK, Taco guys, give me a little backup here!

Quote:

Originally posted by Neal Johns "I still got my tow straps for the Toyotas that come." TW, if you weren't so old and senile, I would be offended! OK, Taco guys, give me a little backup here!

I can't decide which one of you two (TW or Pappy) to stand on your head and use to probe the depth of the holes!

And my CAMPER is sorta stock and driven by a old woman 70 years old.

[Edited on 5-10-2010 by Neal Johns]

I might do it this summer.

Fernando

Marian gets back from Tibet Monday and does not know she is going to the Mission yet.

Hmmmm, I love that place.
It is not easy. But doable.
Put me on the "I need to get permission for the Mission" list.

Another option

15 Google Earth Images of the road.

Starting at Hwy. 1:





The ranch... paved road continues up to airport, the mission road turns left in front of the ranch/ restaurant parking and goes around the ranch to the far side and heads for the arroyo crossing.



Arroyo crossing then left fork, up the hill...





Big gully crossing, 1.8 miles in...first low range 4WD.










Peninsular Divide 10 miles from Santa Ynez, view of Punta Final.





Down, down, down... then the Widowmaker, followed by the bog!



Crossing over some more granite before reaching the mission valley.



Mision Santa Maria 14.4miles from Santa Ynez



Photo looking northward.
The road goes another mile into the sandy arroyo. 0.3 mile further a left turn out of the arroyo is the road... tracks in the arroyo soon end in a palm grove. The road was built to the top of the ridge and ended there. An Indian trail continues down into the canyon (this was the older Camino Real). The newer Camino Real climbs up the ridge to the left before the road ends nnear the bulldozed grade... see pins marking the Camino Real along the top of the canyon's north rim.



[Edited on 5-14-2010 by David K]

I will be chaseing for 2 "low budget" teams that frequently break down and don't have much backup. If it was just to spectate I would certainly go with the mission trip.

10-4 on that... good job Jim!

TW will be doing the 500 after doing the mission run... I wish I could too... but with work so low, I must pick just one Baja trip (every couple of months or so)!

got drip?
got sprinklers?
got lighting?
got drainage?
got grass?

Have fun!!

I was talking to the wife about doing both....she almost sounded like she wants me to go for it....wonder if it is a trap of some sort

Let's see....mission run.....a few days at the beach(surfing maybe).....meet up for the race.....

[Edited on 5-15-2010 by surfer jim]

That has been a common belief/ or story told for decades... I think I last read it in Herman Hill's book.

The Group-Victim List

1999 Aerial Photos from BajaMur

My first trip to Santa Maria was with BajaMur... after our epic ride to the mission and back out to Santa Ynez, we continued on that night to Alfonsina's (via Chapala/Coco's) where we stayed with Doug Bowles.

A couple days later, Doug flew Mur and I (and another man 'Jake') over the mission and canyon of Santa Maria. Our goal was to locate the Camino Real or any route to the mission form Gonzaga Bay. We had tried going up the canyon by quad, but boulders and brush blocked our way not far from the road that ends at the canyon mouth.

Here are the photos Mur emailed to me... they are arranged from west to east:



The Widowmaker and road a mile from the mission, view northward.



The mission, view northward.



View eastward, down the arroyo a mile east from the mission.



The arroyo as it enters the top of the canyon leading to Gonzaga Bay, view southward. The road east from the mission comes out of the arroyo and follows its north bank before turning into the side canyon and bulldozed grade.



The bulldozed grade where the road construction from Santa Ynez ended... on the canyon rim, view eastward. From the end of the road, an Indian trail continues on down to the canyon floor. This was the first El Camino Real used by the Jesuits. The Franciscans ordered a better route built that stayed out of the canyon and went along the north rim.



Another look down the deep canyon.



Here the Camino Real can be seen.



Nearing the end of the canyon, view southward.



View southward of the end of the canyon. The Franciscan Camino Real is in the side valley at the bottom-right of the photo and reaches the arroyo just outside the canyon. In the top of the photo a distant hidden valley contains the Las Pamitas oasis and is on the Camino Real. The arroyo continues to the gulf coast between Alfonsina's and Punta Final.

This will be fun!

San Juan de Dios

Hi Art, I thought you already left! Go to my missions web pages for more data and photos... Here is the page on visitas: http://vivabaja.com/missions3/ (one photo of the site is on the first page. The other photos and details: http://vivabaja.com/missions3/page9.html



Photo in 2000 by David K



Photo in 2008 by ELINVESTI8R

Thanks for letting us know Jim... I had my Chevy tow strap all ready to help you, too!!

Have fun at the Baja 500!

Chevy owners are saving their trucks to come down and rescue those who get stuck....